Former Ohio State hockey goalkeeper Sean Romeo has died aged 31 due to complications from a stroke he suffered a week earlier.
Romeo initially suffered the health emergency on October 15 before fatal complications set in on Thursday, October 22.
His heartbroken mother, Lisa, shared the devastating details of his final moments via a support page before he died ‘very peacefully’ on Saturday, October 24.
‘Sean’s brain swelling continued to worsen,’ she shared. ‘He suffered another stroke, this time affecting the opposite side of his brain, along with bleeding into his brainstem.
‘The damage was simply too extensive, and despite everything the doctors had done and how hard Sean had fought, his body could no longer overcome it.
‘I find comfort in knowing he was not in pain and that he was surrounded by people who loved him more than words can express.’
Sean Romeo, a former hockey star, has died at 31 after complications following a stroke
Romeo was goalkeeper for the Ohio State Buckeyes team before he graduated in 2019
Romeo was an organ donor who gave his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys after his death.
‘Even in death, our boy is a hero, giving others a second chance at life,’ his mom said. ‘Please keep the recipients and their families in your prayers.
‘My hope is that they will not only receive the gift of life but someday understand just how special the person was who made that gift possible.’
Romeo reached the 2018 NCAA Frozen Four with Ohio State, the first time the team had made it that far since 1998, and he was honored as the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Midwest Regional.
He played on the 2019 Big Ten Championship team and earned the NCAA elite 90 award as the highest Frozen Four student-athlete GPA on his way to graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance.
In a statement paying tribute after his death, Ohio State said that Romeo, who transferred to the school after two years at Maine was ‘a seven-time Big Ten Star of the Week, set the school-record shutout streak (204:27) in November 2018.
‘He was the first goalie in program history to record shutouts in three straight starts and ended his career fourth in program history in career goals-against average (2.22), tied for fourth in career save percentage (.919) and tied for fifth with five career shutouts.
‘His 22 wins in 2018 are tied for second for a single season in Ohio State history, while his 2.06 goals-against average and.927 save percentage that year ranked fourth all-time.’
Romeo set the school-record for shutout streak and helped Ohio State reach the Frozen Four
Romeo transferred to Ohio State after two years at Maine then went on to play professionall
He turned professional after graduating college, playing 30 games in the ECHL before starting a career in business in Chicago.
His mom, Lisa, called the day after his death ‘one of the hardest days of my life’ as she thanked those supporting her.
‘I don’t think anything can prepare a mother for having to go through her child’s belongings,’ she wrote. ‘To touch every piece of everything your child owns, knowing you have to decide what to keep and what to say goodbye to, is a pain I cannot begin to describe. There simply aren’t words.
‘Sean’s godmother, Michele, is here with me, and she has truly been in the trenches by my side. We packed, we cried, we packed some more, and we cried some more. I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten through these days without her.’
She also called his circle of friends ‘absolutely incredible’ for their support during their time of heartache.
‘They keep stopping by the apartment, bringing food, giving me the biggest hugs, shedding tears with me, and sharing stories about Sean,’ Lisa said. ‘Over and over, I hear how special he was, how much he meant to them, and how he touched their lives.
‘As his mother, I always knew how wonderful my son was. But hearing it from so many people who knew him in different ways has been one of the greatest comforts during this heartbreaking time.’
